scholarly journals A prospective study of variations in conventional semen parameters among local andrology laboratories

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Sperm Concentration ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
Semen Parameters ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Progressive Motility ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
And Training

Introduction: Wide variations in semen parameters exist among different andrology laboratories. This study sought to determine the inter- and intra-technician variations in conventional semen parameters among local andrology laboratories. Methods: Pooled semen samples were prepared and sent in two batches to participating andrology laboratories. One technician who routinely performed semen analysis in the participating laboratories was asked to analyze the study samples. The inter-technician and intra-technician coefficients of variation (CVs) were calculated. Information on the qualification and training of the participating technicians, the workload of the centers, their techniques and participation in external quality assurance programs were collected and correlated with the CVs. Results: Eleven andrology laboratories participated in the study. The inter-technician CVs ranged from 14.3% to 44.1% for concentration, 13.8% to 26.2% for progressive motility, and 38.8% to 95.3% for morphology. Andrology laboratories which participated in external quality assurance programs had lower inter-technician CVs for concentration (P = 0.004) and progressive motility (P = 0.002), but not for morphology (P = 0.232). Technicians with more experience or higher workload did not demonstrate lower intra-technician CVs. Conclusion: There were considerable inter- and intra- technician variations in the assessment of sperm concentration, progressive motility and morphology among local andrology laboratories, independent of the workload and experience of the technicians. Participation in external quality assurance programs reduced inter-technician variations in sperm concentration and progressive motility but not morphology.

Glycohaemoglobin: Comparison of 12 Analytical Methods, Applied to Lyophilized Haemolysates by 101 Laboratories in an External Quality Assurance Programme

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cas W Weykamp ◽  
Theo J Penders ◽  
Frits A J Muskiet ◽  
Willem van der Slik
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Quality Assurance Programme ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Edta Blood

Stable lyophilized ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA)-blood haemolysates were applied in an external quality assurance programme (SKZL, The Netherlands) for glycohaemoglobin assays in 101 laboratories using 12 methods. The mean intralaboratory day-to-day coefficient of variation (CV), calculated from the assay of 12 unidentified pairs over a period of 1 year, was 5·2% (range: 0·2–28·7). Forty-seven per cent of laboratories did not meet the criterion of CV < 5%, whereas 68% did not meet the clinically more desirable 3·3–3·6%. Linearity, as derived from the analysis of five combinations of two haemolysates with low and high glycohaemoglobin percentages over 6 months, was excellent (mean correlation coefficient 0·9953; range: 0·9188–0·9999). Analysis of two samples with high and low glycohaemoglobin percentages gave mean interlaboratory coefficients of variation of 10% for one method performed by several laboratories and 22% for all methods performed by all laboratories. It is concluded that the majority of laboratories do not meet the clinically desirable intralaboratory precision and that an unacceptably high interlaboratory precision exists.

scholarly journals Spanish society of laboratory medicine external quality assurance programmes: evolution of the analytical performance of clinical laboratories over 30 years and comparison with other programmes

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Perich ◽  
Carmen Ricós ◽  
Fernando Marqués ◽  
Joana Minchinela ◽  
Angel Salas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Laboratory Medicine ◽  
Analytical Performance ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
Biological Variability ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Spanish Society ◽  
Clinical Laboratories ◽  
Quality Specifications

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to understand the evolution of the analytical performance of the laboratories participating in the Spanish society of laboratory medicine (SEQCML) external quality assurance (EQA) programmes during its 30 years of operation and to compare it with the performance of other EQA programmes to establish whether the results are similar. The results obtained during this period are evaluated by applying the biological variability (BV) and state of the art-derived quality specifications. In addition, the results are compared with those obtained by other EQA programme organisations. It is noted that the laboratories participating in the EQA–SEQCML programmes have improved their performance over 30 years of experience and that the specifications derived from biological variation are achievable. It is difficult to compare EQA programmes, due to lack of accessibility and the differences in the design of these programmes (control materials, calculations used and analytical specifications established). The data from this study show that for some biological magnitudes the results obtained by the programmes are not yet harmonised, although efforts are being made to achieve this. Organisers of EQA programmes should also join the harmonisation effort by providing information on their results to enable comparison.

scholarly journals Which are more correctly diagnosed: Conventional Papanicolaou smears or Thinprep samples? A comparative study of 9 years of external quality-assurance testing

2014 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret C. Cummings ◽  
Louise Marquart ◽  
Anita M. Pelecanos ◽  
Gail Perkins ◽  
David Papadimos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Papanicolaou Smears
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